Outfielder Carlos Gomez placed a big wager on himself on Tuesday by completing details to a one-year contract worth $11.5 million with the Rangers.

Gomez fielded offers on multiyear deals from several clubs, including the Rangers. The 31-year-old took the one-year offer in the hopes that he can re-establish his full value with a big season in 2017 and attract a more lucrative deal in another try at free agency.

"I believe that I'm a player who can help any team win," Gomez said by telephone from his home in the Dominican Republic. "Last year was a rough year, a tough year. But I'm taking it as something that's going to make me a stronger and better player.

"I found something in Texas that I'd been looking for."

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A one-year contract for a veteran can be a powerful motivational tool. The Rangers struck a similar deal with free-agent Ian Desmond last spring. He responded by handling position switches from shortstop to left field to center and made the All-Star team.

"I think it says something when a player chooses to bet on himself," general manager Jon Daniels said. "That's a very good feeling from a club standpoint, when a player believes in himself and has that confidence that he can continue to go out and have that success.

"That could pay dividends for the club."

Gomez essentially had six good weeks last season, all with the Rangers after being released by Houston.

Gomez took to the approach, hitting .284 with a .905 OPS and eight homers in 116 at-bats with the Rangers. Gomez hit .221 with a .619 OPS and nine homers in 444 at-bats during parts of two disappointing seasons with Houston.

"We think we have a player who defensively makes us better and offensively adds punch to our lineup," Daniels said.

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Gomez started in each outfield position with the Rangers last season, with an emphasis on left. He will return to center, the primary position throughout his career. He won a Gold Glove in 2013 as a center fielder with Milwaukee.

The Rangers believe Gomez in center will improve the outfield defense. Desmond handled a difficult assignment better than the Rangers hoped for last season, but he was learning center field at the major-league level.

Gomez is a natural center fielder, with the instincts needed to play the position. That makes for a big difference.

“The initial mindset would say he’s going to be a player for us, going to aid our defense,” manager Jeff Banister said of Gomez. “The potential is there. ... He has the opportunity to be a dynamic center fielder.”

Fangraphs.com gave Desmond a grade of minus-3 for his work in center last season. That put him 26th among the 32 major-leaguers with at least 500 innings in center. Gomez’ troubles with Houston extended into the field, but he had a 1.7. From 2012-15, Gomez had a 47.2 in center, third-best in the majors.

“Last year, we had an All-Star in center in Ian Desmond, and he did a good job,” Gomez said. “Whatever is good for my team is good for me. If my manager thinks I’m the best choice to play center field, I’ll play there.”

Daniels said the club could pursue a multi-year deal for Gomez in the future. Gomez would be receptive